Dear all,
In recent times, I have had the oppurtunity to read some management related
materials. On several ocasions I could not help thinking why
the conflict in our church related to the two factions has dragged on and on for
about a century now. Is it because we are incapable to arrive at a lasting
solution? Is it due to a mirage of the dependence on faith, that shunts our
creative thinking? I refuse to accept that in the past one century we
collectively as a community (both factions included) did not have the talent or
will-power to arrive at an amicable solution. So where did we go wrong?
Management research and theory have suggested several mechanisms to
confront and resolve conflicts. I am sure several of them have been
tried and tested in our case too, yet a lasting solution still eludes us. So
what is it that makes this conflict so unique, so unsolvable? One significant
factor that comes to mind is that since this relates to the church and God,
there is a layer of faith involved which adds to the complexity. (I am sure
leaders on either side have in the past used faith to blur the truth and used
God to suit their interests, yet as far as popular opinion goes, the leaders of
either side still stand in for God, and hence they are immensely respected. The
leaders will do well to take care that this image is not lost).
If the faith factor is taken out (and the faith factor is really out of place
here, since we do share the same faith), this dispute is
about temporal assets. I am sure there are managers on either side who can work
to realise an effective solution. Rational thinking after all is also a gift of
the Holy Spirit.
Fisher R and Ury W in "Getting to Yes" has outlined 4 points for "principled
negotiation" .
1) People - separate the people from the problem
People on either side must participate as problem solvers working side by side,
not as adversaries in the conflict resolution excercise.
2) Interests - Focus on interests, not on positions.
Positions taken by either parties may be changed if it helps the
underlying interests. Do not be blinded by a stand taken in the past.
3) Options - Generate a variety of options before deciding which to
choose. Too often we look for the "single right solution" , which may be
difficult under pressure. Hence look to 'invent options for mutual gain'.
4) Criteria - Insist that the result be based on some objective
criteria. Many times, we are limited by what each side is willing or unwilling
to do, by what each side is willing to concede. We should
focus on getting the results based on some generally accepted, fair
and just criteria -- inorder for the solution to be lasting.
I can see that whatever direction the faction fight takes in the next several
years, it will take great courage and will power by the church leadership on
either side to arrive at a durable solution; but I also see that this faction
fight is a challenge to the managers on both sides(clergy and laity included, we
all manage several things daily in our routine lives) to come forward and work
hard using their skills and talents for the service of the church to help the
church attain peace, a peace that lasts. There may still be several aspects of
conflict management that may not have been explored enough, providing exciting
possibilities for solutions.
"For with God nothing will be impossible" Luke 1:37.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/11486
In recent times, I have had the oppurtunity to read some management related
materials. On several ocasions I could not help thinking why
the conflict in our church related to the two factions has dragged on and on for
about a century now. Is it because we are incapable to arrive at a lasting
solution? Is it due to a mirage of the dependence on faith, that shunts our
creative thinking? I refuse to accept that in the past one century we
collectively as a community (both factions included) did not have the talent or
will-power to arrive at an amicable solution. So where did we go wrong?
Management research and theory have suggested several mechanisms to
confront and resolve conflicts. I am sure several of them have been
tried and tested in our case too, yet a lasting solution still eludes us. So
what is it that makes this conflict so unique, so unsolvable? One significant
factor that comes to mind is that since this relates to the church and God,
there is a layer of faith involved which adds to the complexity. (I am sure
leaders on either side have in the past used faith to blur the truth and used
God to suit their interests, yet as far as popular opinion goes, the leaders of
either side still stand in for God, and hence they are immensely respected. The
leaders will do well to take care that this image is not lost).
If the faith factor is taken out (and the faith factor is really out of place
here, since we do share the same faith), this dispute is
about temporal assets. I am sure there are managers on either side who can work
to realise an effective solution. Rational thinking after all is also a gift of
the Holy Spirit.
Fisher R and Ury W in "Getting to Yes" has outlined 4 points for "principled
negotiation" .
1) People - separate the people from the problem
People on either side must participate as problem solvers working side by side,
not as adversaries in the conflict resolution excercise.
2) Interests - Focus on interests, not on positions.
Positions taken by either parties may be changed if it helps the
underlying interests. Do not be blinded by a stand taken in the past.
3) Options - Generate a variety of options before deciding which to
choose. Too often we look for the "single right solution" , which may be
difficult under pressure. Hence look to 'invent options for mutual gain'.
4) Criteria - Insist that the result be based on some objective
criteria. Many times, we are limited by what each side is willing or unwilling
to do, by what each side is willing to concede. We should
focus on getting the results based on some generally accepted, fair
and just criteria -- inorder for the solution to be lasting.
I can see that whatever direction the faction fight takes in the next several
years, it will take great courage and will power by the church leadership on
either side to arrive at a durable solution; but I also see that this faction
fight is a challenge to the managers on both sides(clergy and laity included, we
all manage several things daily in our routine lives) to come forward and work
hard using their skills and talents for the service of the church to help the
church attain peace, a peace that lasts. There may still be several aspects of
conflict management that may not have been explored enough, providing exciting
possibilities for solutions.
"For with God nothing will be impossible" Luke 1:37.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel, Albany, NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/11486
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